Vehicle wheel



C. FERRO vmucma WHEEL Filed Feb. 13,- 1940 April 8, 1941.

r 4 Shuets-Shet 1 l IIT .LLl

Q 7 INVENTOR BY I 2 a ATTORNEYS.

April 8, 1941.

C. FERRO VEHICLE WHEEL 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13

ATTORNEYS April 8, Q FERRQ 2,237,481

VEHICLE WHEEL Filed Feb. 13, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fla m ATTORN EYS April 8, 1941 Q FERRO 2,237,481

VEHICLE WHEEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15. 1940 [I 4 I; 1 l P az /4 I 5 m? I 63 63 J 56 l 60 g g?" 9 26 /4 /4 2e 25 6 Z] \NVE TOR MTORNEYS' Patented Apr. 3, 1941 1 UNITED STATES VEHICLE WHEEL Casimiro Fen-o, West Brighton,

' Staten Island. N. I.

Application February 13, 1940, Serial No. 318,671

'11 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels, partdcularly wheels for motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, tractors and-the like, and has for an object to provide a wheel having improved 1118 a diilerent arrangement of the attaching means;

Fig. 14 is a partial edge elevation and a partial section, the section being substantially on line attaching means by which the detachable secl4--Il of Fig. 13; J

tion of the wheel can be quickly and easily disconnected and removed and as easily reapplied and attached.

Another object is to provide a. construction in which the wheel-can be easily and quickly detached and removed without disconnecting the attaching means from the permanently mounted or supporting part 01' the wheel. Another object is to provide an improved con.

' struction whereby the tire. can be applied toand removed from the rim without the necessity of prying it or otherwisepassing it over the edge of the rim.

' 7 With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised a construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown, but may use various changes and modifications within the scope or the invention. v

' In'thesje drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wheel in posihas on a vehicle, but with the tireomitted;

Fig. 2 is a partial transverse section-substantially-on line 2'--2 oi Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a detail section through one side oi the wheel showing a somewhat modified arrangement;

Fight is a detail section through one or the securing meansonan enlargedscale, the section being substantially on line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation 6! the construction of Fig. 4, but with a securingstud in section;

Fig. 6 is a'front elevation showing aslightly modified construction; I 1 i i Fig. lie 1!. section oitheconstruction of Fig. 6

substantially online '!'---1 oi Fig. 6; a

v Fig; 8 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified arrangement:

. Fig. 9 is a section similar to modified arrangement; I

Figs. 10 and 11 are a section and front elevag. z showing a tion respectively showing a' slightly modified Fig. 1's is a front elevation of the wheel show 5 Figs. 15 and 16 are detail sections or slightly .dl flerent types 01' attaching means; FLB. 17 is a front elevation of the outer section of the wheel showing a slight modification;

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing how it is attached to the inner section; v Fig. 19 is a section through one edge oi the wheel showing one arrangement of the attaching means of Figs; 1''! and 18 as applied;

' Fig. 20 is a similar view showing another way of using the attaching means 01' Figs. 1'! and 18;

and

Fig, 21 is a transverse section through a wheel showing how this improved attaching means may 29 be employed for different portions of the wheel.

Figs. land 2 show my improved attaching means arranged so that the brake drum may form the inner or central portion of the wheel a with the outer or removable portion detachably mounted thereon, thus doing away with the larger portion of the central disc of the usual removable wheel and therefore greatly reducing the amount of metal required in the wheel, with a resultant material reduction in the weight of g the wheel, producing a wheel which consequently can be much more easily handled and may be produced at less cost. In this construction the brake drum is indicated at I and on the outer periphery thereof are secured mounting ears 2.

These may be formed integralwith the drum or may be attached thereto by welding. riveting or other suitable means. In-this form shown they project radially outward from the outer periphcry of the drum, and are located a short distance inwardly from the-outer face 3 thereof so that the outer periphery acts as a guiding means for the removable section to help guide it to proper position on the drum. This outer removable section comprises the rim 4, in the present instance composed oftwo separable sections 8 and 8, but it is to be understood that thetlre is carried on the rim in the usual manner, the

showing of the tire in these views being omitted. 0n the inner sides of the rim are mounting means comprising ears cooperating with the ears 2 for attaching this outer section to the inner section or brake drum i. The cars may comprise a continuous ring so as to close the" space between the ring and the drum I or they. may be separate ears as shown in the drawings,

located, to carry the studs into the narrower por tions 20. Then by clamping or setting up the v I nuts 84 or a the sections are securely locked sections 8 and 8 may be cut and bent from their respective sections of the rim, or they may be separately formed sections attached to their respective. sections of the rim by any suitable means, such for example as welding or riveting together, and it will be evident that as the openings i8 pass through both sections 8 and 9 of the ears i these clamping nuts [4 and Ma also secure the two sections 5 and 6 of the rim together. The

I operation of removing the outer or detachable I0 as shown. Also, as shown one section extends beyond the edge of the rim section so as to overlap the edge of the other rim section and help to keep them in proper alignment. Thus the section 8 extends beyond the edge H of the rim section 5 and thus overlaps the edge i2 of the rim section 6 to retain them in alignment.

For securing the ears I to the ears 2 one is provided with looking studs and the other with openings cooperating therewith. In the present showing studs ii are mounted in the ears 2 and project forwardly therefrom and have nuts ii thereon. threaded on to the studs as shown in Figs. 2 and or the nut may be an integral part of the stud as shown at Na in Fig, 16. The action isthe same in both cases, except that in the first case the stud is secured to the inner or mounting section 2 with the nut threaded to move thereon, while in the other the stud and integral nut are threaded into the portion 2, but in each case the action of the nut is the same as far as mounting and clamping the removable section is concerned. In both cases there are means to prevent the nut from being detached from the'inner or supporting section. Thus as shown in Fig. 15 there is a head I! on the stud to limit outward movement of the nut and in Fig. 16 the stud has ahead it for the same purpose.

The two sections 8 and 9 of the ears Tare arranged in superposed relation, and to hold them together and in assembled relation when detached from the. mounting section for handling or carrying as a spare, they'are secured together by any desirable securing means, which may be a simple screw II passing through one section of the ear and threaded into the other. i Whenmounted on the supporting section of the wheel, however, they are also secured together by the means for securing the removable section to the supporting section, or that is, the studs i3 and i311 and the nut carried thereby. This securing means is arranged so that the removable section of the wheel may be removed and applied without removing the nuts H or Ila. For this purpose each'ear I is provided with an openin it having two portions, one enlarged portion it to permit passage of the nut id or Ida and a second portion 20 leading from one side thereof which is narrower than the diameter of the nut. and prefportion of the wheel is merely the reverse of that just described. This comprises loosening the nuts 14 and Ma sufiiciently to permit turning of the outer section to bring the studs into the enlarged portion i9 of the openings and then merely withdraw the inner section away from These nuts may be separate and the outer section with the nuts passing through the enlarged portions IQ of the openings. It will be seen that the operation of attaching and detaching is a very simple one, merely involving slipping it over the studs, slightly turning the wheel section, and then setting up the nuts. reverse operation is used in removing the section. In either case it is not necessary to remove the nuts M or Mic with consequent danger of misplacing, or losing, or dropping them into the dirt,

this movement when all the nuts are in direct alignment with the respective enlarged portions H9. The section can then be drawn of! the studs without any trouble. Without this stop the wheel section might be turned too far so as to carry the outer edge of the enlarged portion it under the nut so that it would have to again be turned backwardly a short distance to bring the nuts into j alignment with this portion. This, of course, could be done, but would require the operator to personally control the wheel to bring the wheel,

- 23 of the drum and hold the removable section erably of a width approximately the diameter of the stud 13 or I30. Thus these openings I8, although they may be of different shapesto give the two connected larger and narrower portions, are preferabl of a roximately keyho e shape. and arranged in a circle corresponding to the location of the studs i3. It will therefore be seen central to facilitate sliding it over the studs.

They also run on the periphery to hold it central during the turning movement. To strengthen and stiffen the sections of the ears I they may be provided with laterally pressed ribs 24. Also, to prevent relative turning of the inner and outer 7 sections of the wheel after the nuts H and Ma 1 are set up. such for example as a sudden setting of the brakes, cooperating means is provided at r the inner end of the narrow portion-20 of the that to apply the removable section to the inner rower portion 20 there is a recess or a seat 25 somewhat wider than the width ofportion 20 into which the inner end of the nut M or Ha may seat when it is tightened up. It is also preferred that the side walls of this recess be tapered as in- The.

dicated at 25c and that the inner wall 26 of the nut be correspondingly tapered'to seat against the tapered walls. of the recess. As this recess entends around the end 01' the opening to the opposite sides of the narrower portion 20, and as the nut is larger than the width of the portion 20,

parts of the recess are carried around the nut to" overlap on the inner side thereof toward the enlarged portion I 9. Therefore friction alone is not relied on to prevent relative. turning of the outer wail of the drum I by any suitable means.

sitter the nuts Il are properly. set up they may be all covered by a removable cap 28 held in place by suitable spring clips 29 iastened to the section h anolsnapping over theinner edges of the cap, and additional spring clips 30 secured to the innor surface of the cap may snap into suitable recesses in the hub. To close the space 3| between the drum and the rim at the rear of the attaching means a sheet 'metal resilient substantially flat ring it may be secured to thedru'm at 33 and seat at its outer edge in the curve of the rim section b as shown in Fig. 2. This closes up the space wlthoutinterfering with the application and removal of the outer section.

. To-remove a tire from this outer section of the wheel all that is necessary is to loosen the nuts it and remove the section 'of the wheel as just described. Then by laying it flat on the door the screws I1 may be removed, after the tire has been deflated, and then the upper section 5 lifted upwardly as shown in Fig. 12. Then the the may he lifted from the lower section B, or this section merely dropped downwardly from the tire. Mounting a tire on the rim is just as simple, and all that is necessary is to apply the two sections t and d to the opposite sides of the tire and then secure them together by applying the screws I'l.'

The tire canthen be inflated as the rim sections will be held together by the screws I1 for hane dling or carrying as a spare, but when applied to the wheel for use the sections are also firmly held together by the mounting studs and nuts it, ids, and I4 and Ila. It will thuslbe seen that the tire may be easily applied to or removed from the rim without the necessity or prying it over the edge of the rim by the use of tire irons or similar implements. v The other arrangements shown all use the same principle and. a similar construction simply modified for diderent conditions. For instance in tractor use it is sometimes desirable to change the width oil tread, that is the distance between the tires on the opposite wheels. Thus as shown in 3 the ear sections 8a and to: corresponding to the sections t and 9 of Fig. l, instead of being in the center of the rim may be spaced to one side thereof. Thus the center por ters will be back of the face of the drum, and it this reversing is done for both tires on opposite ends of the axle it will be evident the tread, or the distance between the tires, may be increased or decreased.

This rim in two sections'to facilitate applying and removing the tire and with the mounting means for securing them together may be used v without the keyhole'shaped opening and the nonremovable clamping nut of Figs. 1 to 5. Thus in Figs. 6 and 7 the sectional ears 1, instead of being provided with the keyhole shaped opening I8,

may have'a straight opening 36 through which the stud I3 or I3a may pass, but in this case the nut 'I lb or the stud of the type of I3a is removable to'permit removal of the wheel section, but

when in position this clamping stud or nut holds the sections of the tire rim together the same as tion at of the section is may be wider than the I portion 35 of the section So so that the earsections to and 9a are located to one side of the conter. Thus when placed on the ears 2 of the drum l as shown in Fig. 3 the center of the rim and therefore the tire willbe toward the outer face at the drum. If the rim is removed and reversed and again placed on the ears 2 the rim and the the would be carried inwardly and their tea in the first form.

In Fig. 8 there is a slightly different arrange-. ment in which instead of separate ears on the brake drum 31, this drum is formed with an outwardly extending flange 3B in which the studs I3 or I3a are mounted. The removable section including the rim is made in two sections 39 and 40. and the ears having the elongated opening for cooperating with the stud are shown in overlapped relation at t i and 42. The sections 41 and 42 instead of being separate ears may be continuous flanges, but the operation is the same as in the other forms and these flanges or cars may. be located to one side of the center of the rim as shown to permit changing of the width of the tread as described in connection with Fig. 3. The sections of the rim are held together by the clamping nuts It when applied to the wheel as in the other forms, and the sections are secured together by the screws il when the section is removed from the drum. The drum may be stepped or recessed as indicated at 43 to cooperate with the inner edges of the flanges or ears 4i and iii to center the removable section on the drum and assist it getting in the correct position.

it similar arrangement is'shown in Figs. 9,10 and ii, encept here instead of mounting the studs it or its onears or iianpes extending outwardly the outer periphery oi the braire drum as in Figs. It, and ii these studs project forwardly irom the trout iace oi the brake drum .45, and the attaching ears comprising the sections 46 and t'll, corresponding to the sections 8 and 9, in which are located the elongated openings I8,

' overlap the trout wall oi? the brake drum. Otherwise the removable section is secured to the drum in the same manner and by the same operation as may have hacirwardly extending lugs 49 to enon the outer periphery of the drum to assist in centering the outer section on the drum and guide it thereon during the limited turning movements. 4

"in the form shown in Figs. it and 14 the same attaching means is provided for attaching a wheel section having a more complete disc to the :i'ace or the brake drum. This is similar to the arrangement oi Fig. 9, except that the studs I3 or its project forwardly from the face of the brains dnnn so near the center thereof, or from.

the hub plate filyand the central portion of the rim or rim flange is extended inwardly at 52 and is provided with elongated openings I8 through which the studs extend. These openings i8 have the same enlarged portion is for passage of the .nuts and the narrower portions having the seats to cooperate with the studs and nuts to .lock the wheel against turning on the drum, and

mount it thereon as in the forms previously described. The operation of mounting and removing the wheel is the same as in the other forms.

In Figs. 17 to 21 is shown how this improved principle of mounting the removable section of the wheel may be used to secure it either to the back of the supporting drum or disc or on the "front thereof as desired. Thus as shown in these the stud is provided with ahead or flange IE on each endto prevent removal of the nuts. The ear sections 53 and 54 are also secured together by a screw II as in the first form. The brake drum or other supporting central section 51 is provided with a flange 58 extending radially from its outer periphery in which are cut notches 59 of a size to permit passage of the ears 55, or if preferred separate spaced ears corresponding to the ears 2 (Fig. 2) could be used. In'this flange 58 betweenthe notches 59, are formed elongated openings iii. If spaced ears like ears 2 are used then the openings I! are formed in these ears. In either of the central or mounting section, and'these case they'are formed in the ears or the flange openings l8 are constructed the same as in Figs. 1

and 2 with the enlarged portion IS, the narrow portion 20 and the recessed seat 25. If it is desired to mount the removable section 4 on the rear of the flange 58 this section is placed over the supporting section 51 by passing the ears 55 backwardly through the notches 59, or between ears corresponding to the ears 2 if such are used.

The section 4 is then rotated relative to the sec-,

tion 51 to bring the forwardly projecting studs 56 same type of securing and locking means is usedinto alignment with the enlargedportion IQ of the openings i8 and then the section 4 drawn forwardly to insert the stud and the nuts l4 thereon through these openings IS. The section 4 is then rotated slightly to carry the studs into the narrower portions 20 and then the nuts H are set up in the seats 25, thus locking the removable section 0 the inner section 51 and also locking it against ing thereon. This is the arrangement shown in Fig. 19. To remove the section 4 all i that is necessary is to reverse this operation.

If it is preferred to mount the section 4 on the front of the flange 58 or the ears as specified, the rearwardly extending portions of the studs 56 and the nuts J4 thereon areinserted through the enhave-to be cleaned before use.

larged portions IQ of the opening from the front.

The section 4 is then turned to bring these studs into the narrower portions of the openings and the nuts set up to lock it in position. This is the arrangement shown in Fig. 20. In each section the nuts l4 when set up clamp the sections 53,

54 of the ears 5 together and therefore clamp together the two sections 5 and 6 of the rim or removable section 4.

In Fig. 21 the removable section .4 is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 but the double stud 60 correthereon either on the front or the rear side thereof in the same manner as previously described, the flange Sl having notches corresponding to the notches 58 of Fig. 18. However, in the showing of Fig. 21 the disc or flange Si is shown as a separate member and is oflset at its center in which are provided openings of the same shape as the openings l8 to receive these studs 63 mounted on the front wall of the drum 62. Thus not only is the section 4 removably secured on the flange or disc 8| by my improved locking and securing means, but the disc or flange 6| itself is removably mounted in the same way on the front of the brake drum 62. Thus in removing the section 4 for repairing or changing a tire it may be disconnected from the disc or flange 6| in the same manner as the other forms, or the section 4 with the disc 6| may be removed by loosening the nuts on the studs 63. This double mounting arrangement is intended primarily for use in tractors where very large driving wheels are used, and the central disc BI is dished or offset laterally so that by taking it off and reversing it and then attaching it to the drum the tread or the distance between the wheels may be varied. With the very large wheels commonly used the parts are very heavy and diflicult to handle where the central disc and the rim of'the tire must be removed and handled as a unit. With the arrangement applied to the drum l2.- After this the rim section may again be applied to the disc or flange I l thus greatly facilitating the operation of reversing the wheels.

It will be seen from the above that in the various applications and arrangement shown the for mounting the removable section on the supporting or stationary inner section, and that the same basic construction is used in each form, and

the same operation of removing and applying the detachable section is employed in all of the arrangements.- Tlus involves merely loosening of j the clamping nuts to remove them from the recessed seat, then turning the removable section a short distance permitting it to be easily removed from the mounting section.- The operation of remounting is Just as simple and as quickly performed. .Also. in each instance the sections are effectively locked together against relative turning movements; It is not necessary to remove the studs or nuts, and therefore they do not require handling to soil the hands or clothes, and

there is no danger of their being lost or misplaced or dropped into the dirt so that they would Also, that the clamping studs or nuts secure the two sections of the rim or removable section together when they are on the .wheel, but that the rim sections may be easily separated for applying or removing the tire without the necessity of using tire irons to pry'it over the edges of the rim.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

. said section extending parallel to the axis thereof sponding to the stud of Figs. 19 and 20 is mounted on the flange 6| of the brake drum 62.

and arranged in a circle, a clamping nut on each stud, a removable section having inwardly extending ears each having an opening comprising an enlarged portion for passage of a nut and a narrower portion leading from one side thereof, said section beingmountable on the first section by passing the nuts through said enlarged portions and then turning the section to locate the studs in the narrower portions, and rearwardly extending lugs on the ears located to cooperate with said shoulder to center and guide the removable section during the turning movements.

2. In a vehicle wheel, an inner supporting section having spaced flange sections, an outer removable section having inwardly extending spaced flange sections of a width less than the distance between theflrst flange sections so that the flange sections on the removable wheel sections may be passed to the rear 01 the first flange sections and then turned to bring the two sets of flange sections into overlapping relation, one set of flange sections having openings therethrough, studs on the other set of flange sections having nuts adapted to pass through the openings in the first flange sections, said openings each having an enlarged portion for passage of the nuts and a narrower portion leading from one nuts to receive the studs to permit the nuts to a removable section comprising rim sections side thereof to receive the studs on relative turning movements between the sections.

3. In a vehicle wheel, an inner supporting section, studs mounted on said section, securing nuts threaded on the studs, means to prevent removal of the nuts from the studs, a removable section of the wheel comprising rim sections in-- cluding spaced side flanges and which are laterally separable to permit removal of a tire, inwardly projecting members on the respective rim sections with the members on one rim section overlapping corresponding members or the including spaced side flanges and which are laterally separable to permit removal oi a tire, inwardly projecting members on the respective rim sections with the members of one rim section overlapping corresponding members of the other rim section, the said members on one rim section extending beyond the inner edge of said section and overlapping the inner edge or the other rim section to retain the rim sections in alignment, said overlapping members having a plurality of substantially keyhole shaped openings arranged in a circle with the openings in each overlapping pair of members being in align- ,ment, a series of studs on the first section located to pass into said openings and having nuts thereon, the larger portion of the openings being of a size to permit passage of the nuts and the narrower portions being of a width substantially that of the studs to permit the openings to be slid onto the studs and then the removable section turned to bring the studs into the narrower other rim section, the said members on one rim section extending beyond the inner edge of said section and overlapping the inner edge of the other rim section to retain the rim sections in alignment, each pair of said overlapping mem-' bers having aligned substantially keyhole shaped openings and said aligned openings being spaced to correspond with the spacing of the studs, the larger portion of said openings being oi a size to permit passage of said nuts and the narrower portion being of a width substantially that of the studs to receive the studs to permit the nuts to clamp the rim sections together and to the supporting section, and there being a depressed seat for the inner end of the nuton a stud at the end of the narrower portion to receive the nut and prevent turning of the removable section relative to the inner section.

4. In a vehicle wheel, a supporting section, a removable section comprising rim .sections including spaced side flanges and which are.

laterally separable to permit removal of a tire, inwardly projecting members on the respective rim sections with the members of one rim section overlapping corresponding members of the other rim section, the said members on one rim section extending beyond the inner edge of said section and overlapping the inner edge or the other rim section to retain the rim sections in alignment, said overlapping members having a plurality of substantially keyhole shaped openings arranged in a circle with the openings in each overlapping pair of members being in alignment, studs provided with nuts having threaded connection with the first section, the larger portion of said openings being of a diameter to permit passage of said nuts therethrough and the portions of the openings to permit the nuts to clamp the rim sections together and to the supporting section, tapered seats at the ends 01' said narrower portions of the openings, and the inner ends of the nuts being tapered to seat in said seats and prevent turning of the removable section in the opposite direction.

6. In a vehicle wheel, an inner supporting section, a removable outer section comprising rim sections including spacedslde flanges and which are laterally separable to permit removal of a tire, inwardly projecting members on the respective rim sections with the members on one rim section overlapping the corresponding members on the other rim section, the members on one rim section extending beyond the inner edge thereof and overlapping the inner edge of the other rim' section to retain the'sections in alignment, said overlapping members having a plurality of openings therein arranged in a circle with the openings in each overlapping pair ofmembers being in alignment, a plurality of studs on the inner section having nuts thereon and arranged to correspond with the arrangement or a portion of a size to permit passage of the nuts and a narrower portion leading from one side thereof, said outer section being adapted for attachment to the inner section by sliding said larger portions or the openings over the nuts onto the studs and then turning in the plane of the section to bring the studs into the narrower portions of the openings Ior clamping of the rim sections to ether and to the supporting section by the nuts, and cooperating holding means on the inner section at the outer ends of said narrower portions and on the inner ends or the nuts to lock the outer section against turning in the ears on each or the separablerim sections with narrower portion being of less width than said the ears on one rim section overlapping the ears 

